The European Fund for Regional Development (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund
(CF) are the most powerful investment programmes in the EU budget,
worth more than €240bn until 2020. The European Parliament (EP) and the
European Committee of the Regions (CoR) kicked off today their
cooperation to secure that, in the phase 2021-2027, regions and cities
keep playing a key role in the fund's management and more resources are
devoted to fight against climate change and to social policy.

The EP rapporteur on the ERDF CF 2021-2027, Andrea Cozzolino (S&D/IT)and the CoR
rapporteur and Member of the Executive Council of the Province of Flevoland Michiel Rijsberman (ALDE/NL), kicked off today their joint
work to improve the European Commission's
proposal on the new fund's regulation
, tabled last 29 May.

"
We are focusing on two key priorities: the ERDF, by definition, must
respond to the specific needs of our regions and cities, any
centralisation or 'nationalisation' of rules, objectives and criteria
should be therefore avoided
", stressed the two politicians, referring, in particular, to the proposed
provisions that establish national thresholds to concentrate funding on
specific objectives.

With regards to spending goals, Mr Cozzolino and Mr Rijsberman agreed that:
"The
thematic concentration of funding has proved to work well in the
current period but, in the next phase, regions and cities should be put
in the condition of allocate investments on climate change, social
policy and urban development, without being trapped by complex
thresholds, imposed from above
".

Higher minimum allocations for sustainable urban development, as well as
how to increase funding for the reduction of risks connected to natural
disasters were also discussed. Simplification, flexibility, territorial
focus will be key drivers for the elaboration of the amendments to the
regulation proposed by the European Commission.

According to Mr Rijsberman, "
The European Fund for Regional Development succeeded in creating jobs,
improving the quality of life in our regions, increasing energy
efficiency, stimulating innovation. It must continue to play its role
without any centralisation towards Brussels or national governments,
showing the impact of the EU in each and every European region and
city"
.

"
European citizens need a stronger EU support in dealing with social
change and marginalisation risks. The ERDF can make a difference in
supporting regions' and cities' policies to fight against disparities
and deliver social innovation and inclusion in our communities
" stressed Mr Cozzolino.

The adoption of the EP and CoR position on the future ERDF is scheduled for
December 2018 and represents a major step in the preparation of EU's
cohesion policy 2021-2027.

Background note

The European Regional Development Fund is the main instrument of EU's
cohesion policy, worth over €350 billion between 2014 and 2020– the EU's
main investment tool that works to reduce regional disparities, create
jobs, open new business opportunities and address major global issues such
as climate change and migration. It is the only EU policy that covers all
of Europe's local communities, involving local stakeholders to deliver
growth strategies led by shared EU goals.

To make the case for a stronger cohesion policy after 2020, the CoR,
together with leading EU territorial associations, has launched the
#CohesionAlliance
: a grass-roots movement open to anyone who believes that EU cohesion
policy must continue to act as a pillar of the EU's future. Since its
launch in October last year, the Alliance has continued to attract new
signatories every day, including regional and local authorities, business
associations, academia, trade unions and think tanks. There are now more
than 5500 signatories, including hundreds of regions and cities covering
over 90% of the EU's population. Several leading MEPs, including Mr
Cozzolino, signed up the alliance
declaration
.

More information about the #CohesionAlliance initiatives, statements and
position papers are available at
http://cohesionalliance.eu